Gas feeding mask



April 20, 1954 A. L. KASLOW GAS FEEDING MASK Filed July 23, 1951 42mm? z. 4 4340);

' I N VEN TOR.

Patented Apr. 20, 1954 GAS FEEDING MASK Arthur L. Kaslow, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor of one-half to Lyle Caldwell, Los Angeles, and one-half to Albert A. Ray, Alhambra, Calif.

Application July 23, 1951, Serial No. 238,124

3 Claims. 1

The present invention relates generally to an inhaling device, and is more particularly concerned with a gas feeding mask of the type utilized for the administration of oxygen and other gases to patients.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a simple gas feeding mask which is devoid of metal parts, and which is constructed of a plastic material having flexible, non-toxic, nonabsorbing, and low allergenic properties, which may be discarded after use.

A further object is to provide a gas feeding mask which may be comfortably Worn by a patient over relatively long periods of time, and which is so constructed that it Will readily conform to the patients face, and be retained in seated position by novel means for applying pressure at a substantially single point of application.

Another object is to provide a mask of such construction that it may be economically discarded, and yet which will efficiently utilize and administer a gas such as oxygen.

Still another object is to provide in connection with a mask of the herein described type,,novel means for retaining the mask in a position of use, together with a novel adjustment by which it may be fitted to the patients head.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. 1 is a view illustrating the manner in which a mask embodying the features of the present invention may be applied to the face of apatient;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the mask, taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a plan top view of the mask, additionally showing the associated parts for aflixing and securing the mask to the patients face in a position of use.

Proceeding now to a more detailed description of the invention, a hood or mask It is provided, this mask being constructed in the form of a shell which may be positioned over the nose and mouth of the patient.

A variety of materials are suitable for the construction of the mask, but in practice I have utilized a plastic such as polyethylene which enables plastic.

the mask to be molded into a shell of one piece construction, and in addition has characteristics which make it particularly desirable for use in the present application, since the plastic is of lightweight, flexible, non-absorbing, has low allergenic characteristics, and is of sufiiciently low cost as to warrant throwing the mask away after it has been used. 7

In the illustrated construction, the mask In is in the form of a cupped shell, being arched both longitudinally and transversely. As will be noted in Fig. 2, the mask is of greater depth in the nose portion, this portion also being of less width than the part which covers the patients mouth. At its periphery, the mask is provided with a marginal flange H which will seat against the patients face and serve to seal the engagement of the mask and prevent leakage.

The deepest portion of the mask is at the apex of the arched portion as indicated by the numeral 12 which is in general at the location of the end of the nose of the patient. Below the apex l2, and substantially midway between the sides of the mask, there is formed a protrusion 13 of This protrusion may be integrally formed with the, mask shell, or may be separately formed and bonded to the shell in the required location shown. Peripherally, the protrusion I3 is of substantially triangular configuration with one side positioned to face the upper end of the mask, while the other sides converge downwardly toward a point directed toward the lower end of the mask. The protrusion i3 is transversely grooved as indicated by the numeral M to receive a tube It therein, and permit the tube to be carried laterally on opposite side of the mask to form tube portions it and ii which may be passed over the ears of the patient and secured in a manner which will subsequently be described.

The tube I5 may be anchored in the groove M by suitable bonding means, and as shown in Fig. 3, the tube It may be provided with a branch laterally extending short nipple it which is carried through the protrusion and into the interior of the mask, this nipple providing a flow passage connection with the interior of the tube [5.

After assembling the tube 15 with the nipple I8 in the protrusion, as described above, a curved extension I9 is assembled with one end secured over the associated end of the nipple l3 and its other end positioned adjacent the inner surface of the apex l2 so as to form an outlet for discharging gas from the tube [5 into the interior of the mask in proximity to and above the end of the patients nose, so that the tendency to exhale incoming gas during an exhalation is minimized. when the mask is being utilized.

To facilitate molding and to further strengthen and hold the deepest portion of the mask shell in its molded shape, ribs 29 and 2| extend laterally from the protrusion on each side of the mask shell.

Below the protrusion I3 is an opening 22 which provides for free fiow of air and exhaled carbon dioxide as the patient breathes while utilizing the mask.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the tube portions l6 and I! are utilized as a part of the securing means for retaining the mask in a position of use. The portion I6 is shown as being closed at one end as by a suitable plug 23, whereas the portion I? may be carried to a suitable vconnection with a source of oxygen supply (not shown).

The tube portions 16 and I! are interconnected by means of an elastic band 24 having its respective ends connected to a disc member 25 which is provided with an aperture 25 adapted to receive the associated tube portion slidably therethrough. The discs 25-25 may be s'lidably adjusted along their associated tube portions, and the elastic band may either be passed back of the patients head, or the tube portions 56 and H may be carried downwardly behind the patients ears, and the elastic 25 placed under the patients chin. The particular manner of securing the mask will depend to some extent upon the conditions under which it is being used, as one arrangement will be more comfortable than the other under certain conditions.

The mask of the present invention is of such construction that it is comfortably worn by the patient, and results in a patient cooperation which is cliificult if not impossible to obtain with feeding masks of the usual construction.

One of the major factors contributing to the comfort of the patient, when utilizing the mask of the present invention, results from the provision of a construction in which the pressure holding the mask against the face of the patient is applied at a substantially single point. By utilizing the tube l as a securing member, pressure is applied to the protrusion l3, thus permitting the mask to readily accommodate to the face of the patient without setting up points of increased pressure which would become exceedingly uncomfortable over a period of long feeding. Moreover, the light construction and absence of heavy metal fittings enables the patient to comfortably wear the mask and affords freedom of movement, since there are no restricting elements such as found in some of the presently known masks.

In addition to the above noted features of the mask of the present invention, clinical tests have shown that the mask is efiicient in the use of oxygen. These tests have shown a to oxygen concentration and 0.85% carbon dioxide content with an oxygen flow rate of 7 liters per minute.

It is appreciated that various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, hence, I do not wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An inhaler for administering a gas to a patient, comprising? a longitudinally arched mask adapted to fit over the patients nose and peripherally engage the face surface around the nose; a gas supply tube anchored in the arched portion of the mask and extending on both sides for passage over the patients ears; means connecting said tube to the mask interior; an elastic band; and slide fasteners connecting said elastic band with the tube portions passing over the patients ears.

2. An inhaler for administering a gas to a patient, comprising: a longitudinally arched mask adapted to fit over the patients nose and peripherally engage the face surface around the nose; a gas supply tube anchored in the arched portion of the mask and extending on both sides for passage over the patients ears; means connecting said tube to the mask interior; and adjustable elastic means for interconnecting the tube portions passing over the patients ears.

3. An inhaler for administering a gas to a patient, comprising: a longitudinally arched mask adapted to fit over the patients nose and peripherally engage the face surface around the nose; a gas supply tube anchored in the arched portion of the mask and extending on both sides for passage over the patients ears, one only of said side tube portions being adapted for connection to the gas supply; means defining a single gas outlet from said tube to the mask interior; and means retaining said tube under tension forces in position over the patients ears to hold the mask in operative position against the patients face.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,632,449 McKesson June 14, 1927 1,896,716 McKesson Feb. 7, 1933 2,313,999 Kreiselman Mar. 16, 1943 2,383,649 Heidbrink Aug. 28, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 622,116 Great Britain Apr. 27, 1949 631,537 Great Britain Nov. 4, 1949 

